Jail hearing is Thursday

State to hear about wage decision process.

State to hear about wage decision process.

March 15, 2006|ANITA MUNSON Tribune Staff Writer

PLYMOUTH -- Anyone with comments against or in favor of common wages set for the proposed Marshall County Jail will have an opportunity to speak Thursday. That's when the Indiana Department of Local Government Finance will hold a public hearing on the matter, beginning at 9 a.m. in the commissioners' meeting room on the second floor of the Marshall County Building, 112 W. Jefferson St. The hearing is the result of objections to the methodology in selecting the common construction wage for the project planned on Pine Road. Objectors filed petitions with the Marshall County auditor, who then certified the names, and forwarded the petitions to the DLGF for review. The county has challenged the validity of the objectors' claims. The hearing, according to Bob Harris, a DLGF field hearing officer, will open with an explanation of what the hearing is about, and will allow objectors to speak first. Harris said Tuesday that both oral and written remarks will be accepted by the DLGF field agents. Next up will be comments from those supporting the project. They will be allowed to rebut objectors' claims, Harris said. Finally, objectors will be allowed to rebut supporters' comments. "Anyone that wants to speak will be allowed," Harris said by telephone Tuesday morning. He added that speakers will be encouraged to "stay away from repetition." The hearing will be tape-recorded. At the conclusion of the hearing, the field officers will forward the evidence provided, as well as their report of the hearing, to the commissioner. After a review of both, the commissioner will issue a final order in the matter. Harris said that depending on the evidence presented at the hearing, it typically takes field officers two to three weeks to compile their hearing reports. Once the report is in the hands of the commissioner, a 90-day period is given to issue the final order resolving the matter. The final order may not be challenged, according to Indiana law. Staff writer Anita Munson: amunson@sbtinfo.com (574) 936-2920